Method for Encoding a Structured Document

1. Method for encoding a structured document using an encoding device, comprising: converting the contents of the document into a binary representation; dividing the binary representation into encoding units, which form an encoded data flow, readable out from the encoded data flow; and including configuration data in the encoded data flow, by which configuration information concerning the division of the binary representation into encoding units is readable out prior to reading out one or more encoding units.

2. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the configuration information contains information concerning missing contents of the document in predetermined encoding units.

3. Method according to claim 2 , wherein the encoded data flow contains references to at least one of the locations at which the missing contents of the document are located in the encoded data flow, and to the encoding units containing the missing contents of the document.

4. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the configuration data is encoded.

5. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the configuration data is the configuration information and is added to the encoded data flow.

6. Method according to claim 5 , wherein the configuration information is textually encoded in the form of an XML document.

7. Method according to claim 5 , wherein the configuration information is encoded with an MPEG encoding method.

8. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the configuration data includes references to configuration information, with which configuration information is selected from stored configuration information.

9. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the document is an MPEG description flow, the encoding units being fragment update units which in turn form access units.

10. Method according to claim 8 , wherein the stored configuration information is contained in profiles of an MPEG standard.

11. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the structured document is an XML document including at least one of elements, attributes and data types.

12. Method according to claim 2 , wherein the structured document is an XML document including at least one of elements, attributes and data types and wherein missing contents of the document comprise at least one element, attribute and data type.

13. Method for decoding an encoded data flow, comprising decoding a data flow encoded with a method according to claim 1 .

14. Method according to claim 13 , wherein the configuration information is read out.

15. Method for encoding and decoding a data flow, comprising encoding a data flow with a method according to claim 1 and decoding the encoded data flow.

16. Encoding device, designed to implement a method according to claim 1 .

17. Decoding device, designed to implement a method according to claim 13 .

18. Encoding and decoding device, designed to implement a method according to claim 15 .

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the document is an XML document.

20. Method according to claim 2 , wherein the configuration data is the configuration information and is added to the encoded data flow.

21. Method according to claim 20 , wherein the configuration information is textually encoded in the form of an XML document.

22. Method according to claim 20 , wherein the configuration information is encoded with an MPEG encoding method.

23. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the document is at least one of an MPEG-7 and an MPEG-21 description flow, the encoding units being fragment update units which in turn form access units.

24. Method according to claim 9 , wherein the stored configuration information is contained in profiles of an MPEG standard.

25. Method according to claim 23 , wherein the stored configuration information is contained in profiles of at least one of the MPEG-7 and the MPEG-21 standard.

26. Device for encoding a structured document, comprising: means for converting the contents of the document into a binary representation; means for dividing the binary representation into encoding units, which form an encoded data flow, readable out from the encoded data flow; and means for including configuration data in the encoded data flow, by which configuration information concerning the division of the binary representation into encoding units is readable out prior to reading out one or more encoding units.

27. The device of claim 26 , wherein the document is an XML document.

28. Device for encoding and decoding a structured document, comprising: means for converting the contents of the document into a binary representation; means for dividing the binary representation into encoding units, which form an encoded data flow, readable out from the encoded data flow; means for including configuration data in the encoded data flow, by which configuration information concerning the division of the binary representation into encoding units is readable out prior to reading out one or more encoding units; and means for decoding the encoded structured document.

29. The device of claim 28 , wherein the document is an XML document.